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Neighbors To North Search For Ways To Feed Families

foodbank.org

A national organization has released details about families in Idaho who are struggling to put food on that table. According to Feeding America, one in six Idahoans struggles with hunger.

Chico McKinney is branch manager of the Idaho Foodbank's Lewiston location. He says during the holiday season, more families reach out for help because of the added stress of costly festivities.

"This puts an added strain on people's grocery budgets so there's definitely a higher increase of food assistance requests during the last two months," said McKinney.

The Idaho Foodbank is hosting events across the state for its "Hope for the Holidays" food drive, with the goal of collecting two-point-five million meals through December. The organization also is looking to collect 5-thousand holiday meats during the drive.

Although there are signs of an improving economy in many parts of the country, McKinney says many Idahoans still are struggling. Many also find themselves in the unfamiliar position of reaching out for help.

"In this region especially, with such a large timber and lumber industry, and some of the mills are in decline or closing, people are still losing their jobs, people are still out of work,” he said. “And some people that were gainfully employed and had a nice vehicle and had a nice house and things are looking for work and needing assistance."

According to McKinney, the north central branch of Idaho Food Bank serves about 17-thousand food insecure people each month.